{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/105/1050974.htm","path":"chr/ecf/105/1050974.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/105/1050974.htm","text":"Chapter 40 [XIX.]\u2014The Ignorance of the Pelagians in Maintaining that the Knowledge of the Law Comes from God, But that Love Comes from Ourselves.\nIt is no wonder that light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. 3179 In John\u2019s Epistle the Light declares, \u201cBehold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.\u201d 3180 And in the Pelagian writings the darkness says, \u201cLove comes to us of our own selves.\u201d Now, if they only possessed the true, that is, Christian love, they would also know whence they obtained possession of it; even as the apostle knew when he said, \u201cBut we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.\u201d 3181 John says, \u201cGod is love.\u201d 3182 And thus the Pelagians affirm that they actually have God Himself, not from God, but from their own selves! and although they allow that we have the knowledge of the law from God, they will yet have it that love is from our very selves. Nor do they listen to the apostle when he says, \u201cKnowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth.\u201d 3183 Now what can be more absurd, nay, what more insane and more alien from the very sacredness of love itself, than to maintain that from God proceeds the knowledge which, apart from love, puffs us up, while the love which prevents the possibility of this inflap. 461 tion of knowledge springs from ourselves? And again, when the apostle speaks of \u201cthe love of Christ as surpassing knowledge,\u201d 3184 what can be more insane than to suppose that the knowledge which must be subordinated to love comes from God, while the love which surpasses knowledge comes from man? The true faith, however, and sound doctrine declare that both graces are from God; the Scripture says, \u201cFrom His face cometh knowledge and understanding;\u201d 3185 and another Scripture says, \u201cLove is of God.\u201d 3186 We read of \u201cthe Spirit of wisdom and understanding.\u201d 3187 Also of \u201cthe Spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.\u201d 3188 But love is a greater gift than knowledge; for whenever a man has the gift of knowledge, love is necessary by the side of it, that he be not puffed up. For \u201clove envieth not, vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up.\u201d 3189","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Vol. V: A Treatise on Gra...","type":"page"}